EU can stop Russian gas imports by 2025
New analysis by Ember, E3G, RAP and Bellona identifies the indispensable role clean energy solutions play in rapidly ending the EU’s reliance on fossil gas imports from Russia.
About
Analysis by Ember in partnership with E3G, Regulatory Assistance Project and Bellona.
The scope of this briefing is to analyse the accelerated reduction of fossil gas dependence, on a medium-term time horizon: one to four years. This briefing is intended as input for ongoing policy discussions in the European Council, Parliament and Commission as well as for national level responses to the crisis. Therefore, we focus on the EU27.
Executive summary
EU can stop Russian gas imports by 2025
Clean energy solutions can play an indispensable role in rapidly ending the EU’s reliance on Russian fossil gas imports.
Senior Energy and Climate Analyst, Ember
Homegrown renewables offer an escape route out of Europe’s Russian fossil gas addiction. The EU can wean itself off Russian gas imports by 2025, faster than the recently announced REPowerEU target of 2027. It can accomplish this without stalling the decline of coal power, or replacing one fossil fuel dependency with another, through the rapid implementation of clean energy solutions. There must be immediate action and huge EU-wide commitment to achieve both the current Fit for 55 renewable targets and the required acceleration of wind and solar deployment.
Conclusion
Key policy recommendations
Counterproductive policies should be identified and tackled.
-
01
Policy
Make investments in energy efficiency an energy security priority and increase the ambition of and fast track key renewable energy and efficiency policy in the EU “Fit for 55” package. Identify latent reduction potential that can be fast tracked in line with climate targets, in particular in industrial end use of gas, inefficiencies in gas use (transformation losses, methane leakage), and through electrification of end-uses.
-
02
Support
Support the roll out of renewables and electrification with investment programmes, administrative streamlining and a better market for demand side flexibility as well as long–term contracts. Clarify financial resources available to clean energy solutions under REPowerEU. Ensure that recovery funding allocated for clean energy is used to that effect.
-
03
Capacity
Put in place capacity to monitor and respond to low carbon supply chain risks and scale skilled workforce. Put in place European Commission capacity for a whole economy approach to driving and monitoring progress. Ensure equity in the energy response.
Supporting Material
Acknowledgements
This briefing has been authored by Sarah Brown (Ember), Domien Vangenechten, Johanna Lehne and Lisa Fischer (E3G), Bram Claeys and Jan Rosenow (RAP) and Marta Lovisolo and Keith Whiriskey (Bellona).
